Photographic developing apparatus



May 29, 1956 w. L. SIEMENS PI-IOTOGRAPI-ilC DEVELOPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1955 INVENTOR.

WALTE 2 SlEM E N5 y 9, 1956 w. L. SIEMENS 2,747,480

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOP ING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER L. :'5\E MENS ATTORNEYS PHOTUGRAPHE'C DEVELOPING, APPARATUS Walter L. Siemens, .lnlesburg, Colo. Application May 13, 1955, erial No. 508,136

4 Claims. (Cl. 95--89) The present invention is a photographic developing apparatus which includes a receptacle horizontally partitioned to provide an upper processing compartment or tray and a lower solution compartment; a plurality of collapsible containers within the solution compartment each adapted to hold a different type of photographic solution; valve openings communicating between the respective collapsible containers and the processing compartment, so that the solution in each container can be forced into the processing compartment and then subsequently drained back into the appropriate collapsible container; and means under the control of a user for collapsing each container independently of the other to force the solution held therein into the processing compartment. r

The conventional practice in the developing of photo graphic prints is to provide three side by side trays, containing, respectively, developing, stop, and fixing solutions. The three trays occupy a considerable amount of space, and further, must be filled from and emptied into a corresponding number of solution storage bottles, each time prints are to be developed.

Inrnany instances, space in which the developing op-' erations are to be carried outis at a premium, and accordingly, it is desirable toreduce to a minimum the amount of space required during said operations, in a dark room. Still further, when the side by side trays are used, the prints must be transferred from each tray to the next succeeding tray, thus prolonging the length of time of, and adding inconvenience to, the photographic print processing operation. Still further, only a relatively small number of prints can be processed at any one time, and even these must be relatively small compared to the size of the trays resulting from the necessity of disposing the three trays in the minimum amount of space. The main object of the present invention is to provide a device which will eliminate the several disadvantages mentioned above, and which will occupy a substantially smaller amount of space than is presently required by the three tray method, will eliminate the necessity of filling and emptying individual'trays, will permit an increased number of printsof su-bstantialsize to be processed as a single time, can be used for washing prints if desired or for mixing photographic solutions, will be so designed as to permit control of the solution temperatures, and will alrord ample developing space for developing operations such as thoserequired in the processing of sheet film.

.Other objects will appear from the following description,the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

f Figure 1 is a perspective View of a photographic developing apparatus formed according to the present invention; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, the dotted lines showing the position or the collapsible containers and associated levers when said containers are collapsed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 4-4 05 Figure 2.

The reference numeral has been applied to a rectangular receptacle which, at a relatively short distance below the top edge thereof, is provided with a horizontal partition 12 dividing the receptacle into a relatively shallow, upwardly opening upper compartment 14 constituting a processing compartment or tray, and a relatively deep, lower compartment 16 constituting a solution compartment underlying the full area of the processing com. partrnent.

The processing compartment occupies the major part mally close openings 26, 2'8, 36 respectively formed in the partition 12.

The valves are all identical to one another, so the description of the valve 24 will suffice for all. This, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, includes a frustro-conical valvedisc 32 adapted to seat in the associated opening 30, a

vertical stem 34 secured fixedly atits lower end to and projecting upwardly. from the disc 32, a right angled bracket 35 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the, wall 18 and having an opening in which the stem is guided for vertical movement in opposite direct-ions, a

laterally projecting extension on the upper end of the stem forming a handle 36, and a coil spring 38 circumposed about the stern and held under compression between the bracket 35 and disc 32. By reason of this arrangement, it will be seen that the valve is spring biased to a normally seated position tightly closing the associated opening 30. However, against the restraint of the spring, the valve can be opened by lifting upwardly on the handle 36, after which the handle 36 is rotated approximately degrees from the position thereof shown in Figure 1 to engage the free end of the handle over the ledge. 19. This holds the valve in open position, and to close the valve, it is merely necessary to swing the handle 36 out of engagement with the ledge, the spring 34 now being free to expand for the purpose of seating the valve..

Within the solution compartment is a plurality of col lapsible containers 40, 42, 44- respectively, of thetbello'ws type, each having a rigidly constituted, rectangular bottom plate, the plates being designated at 46, 48, and 50 respectively. At their upper ends, the collapsible containers are secured fixedly to the underside of the parti tion, and the respective containers are in communication with the processing compartment through the openlugs 26, 28, 30 respectively.

Extending under the several bottom plates of the con,-

' tainers is an elongatedshaft 52 the ends of which are seated in aligned openings formed in the side walls. of the receptacle 16. The shaft 52 is adapted tosupport a plurality of levers 54, 56, 5'8, underlying the respective plates 46, 48, 50. The leversare provided, intermediate their ends, with sleeves 60, 62;," 64 through which shaft 52 extends, and at their inner ends, have rollers 66,63, 7% respectively engaging against the undersides of the bottom plates of the collapsible containers.

At their other ends, the levers project outwardly be} yond the front wall of the receptacle, and are fitted with Patented May 29, 71956 weighted, ball shaped handles 72, 74, 76 respectively. The handles are weighted so as to aid in normally swinging the levers in a clockwise direction about the axis constituted by shaft 52, from the full line position shown in Figure 2. To further aid in swinging the levers in this direction, there are provided expansion springs 73, the springs being connected between the bottom of the receptacle and the several levers, adjacent the front wall of the receptacle.

The purpose of providing means that will normally swing the levers in a clockwise direction from their full line Figure 2 positions is to counteract the weight of the developing, stop, and fixing solutions confined within the containers 46, 42, 44 respectively. Normally, the weight of these solutions would tend to rock the levers to their full line positions in Figure 2, and considerable effort would have to be exerted by a user against the projecting ends of the levers to overcome said weight, and force the solutions upwardly out of the containers by collapsing the containers. The weighted ball handles and the springs, however, provide a force which, supplemented by pressure exerted against the handles in a downward direction by the user, will facilitate the rocking of the levers from the full line position of Figure 2 in the dotted line position in the same figure.

Formed in the front wall of the receptacle as shown in Figure 1 are elongated, vertically extending guide slots 80, through which the handle provided ends of the levers project, said slots serving to guide the levers in their swinging movement in a vertical plane. When any lever is pressed downwardly to the maximum extent, pivoted latches 82, mounted upon the front wall or" the receptacle adjacent the respective slots 80, can be swung into latching position to hold the levers down.

In use of the device, the several collapsible containers are filled with appropriate processing solutions. The first step in the developing operation is to dispose the prints in a developing solution. Accordingly, valve 2%] is opened, and lever 54, underlying the developing solution container 40, is rocked from the full to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. This causes the roller 66 to bear against the underside of the bottom plate 50 of container 40 adjacent the collapsible back wall of the container, thus forcing the bottom plate 46 upwardly to the dotted line position of Figure 2 and collapsing the container. This causes the developing solution to be forced through the opening 26, into the processing compartment.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a bar 83 is engaged at its ends in the opposite side walls of the receptacle 10, said bar extending in parallelism with the shaft 52 and being disposed adjacent the partition 12, immediately in back of the front wall of the receptacle. The several bottom plates, at their front ends, are rolled to receive the bar 83, so that the front walls of the collapsible containers are very small in height as compared to the back walls of the containers. The containers thus have an approximately triangular shape, with the bottom plates thereof being in parallelism with the lengths of the associated levers, in the normal, full line position of the levers shown in Figure 2.

Prints are adapted to be disposed in the processing compartment, and to counteract the bouyant tendency of said prints when they are bathed in thesolutions, there is provided a plurality of fiat hold down frames or racks. Spaced longitudinally of the processing compartment and secured to the partition 12 are rack support brackets 84, said brackets each being formed as a plurality of superposed bearing sleeves corresponding in number to the number of racks provided in the device. The racks, along their back edges, extend through the several sleeves, so that the racks, designated at 86, are swingable about horizontal, vertical spaced axes, thus to provide access to the space between any pair of adjacent racks for disposing prints therebetween. This permits a substantial 4 number of prints to be developed at a particular time, without difficulty.

As previously noted herein, the first step is to bathe the prints in a developing solution, and after the prints have been processed through this step, the lever 54-, which was held in its latched, lower position during the developing step, is unlatched, to permit it to swing upwardly to its normal, full line position shown in Figure 2. This draws the developing solution out of the processing compartment, by the suction exerted as the container 40 is extended to its maximum size.

The valve 24) is now closed, and valve 22 open. Without disturbing the positions of the prints, the lever 56 is now depressed and latched in its lowered position, forcing the stop solution into the processing compartment. Then, the stop solution is drawn out of said compartment in the manner previously described, and the fixing solution is forced into the processing compartment to complete he development of the prints.

Should it be desired to wash out the processing compartment after any particular step, there is provided an inlet fitting 88 opening into the processing compartment through one side wall thereof, and a valved drain fitting i i at the opposite side of the processing compartment. A tube )2 is connectable to the inlet fitting, and can extend from a source of water under pressure, to permit the processing compartment to be flushed out with the several valves lit, 22, 24 closed.

The inlet fitting 88, as well as the fitting 90, is provided with a manually operable valve. Further, as will be noted from Figure 4, the inlet fitting 88 is disposed at the bottom of the processing department, while the fitting 9% is disposed adjacent the top thereof. By reason of this arrangement, when water enters the processing compartment through inlet %3, there will be no danger of overflow, assuming that the valve of the outlet fitting 99 is open, since the water will drain off through the fitting 9% when it reaches the level of said fitting. To completely drain off all the water in the processing department, the tube @2 would be detached from the sink faucet or other source of water under pressure, and the water would be permitted to drain out through the fitting 88 and tube 92. The provision of valves on both fittings prevents the three processing solutions from flowing out when not in use.

With respect to the processing operation, intermittent agitation is of importance in the processing of prints and sheet film. The construction illustrated is particularly adapted to facilitate said agitation, and the agitation is achieved simply by swinging the lever of the particular solution that is in use through a small arc, upwardly and downwardly, thus to force a portion of the solution into and out of the processing compartment, thereby setting up a current over and between the prints and films to be processed. In the conventional methods hereinbefore referred to, the individual trays used must be tilted back and forth to provide the necessary intermittent agitation.

It will be apparent that the construction illustrated, and described is such that the apparatus will occupy no more space, generally speaking, than that required by a single tray. Further, due to the use of the superposed racks, a substantial number of prints can be processed at any one time, including prints of substantial size. The prints need not be transferred from one tray to another, and it is merely necessary that the various solutions be forced into the processing compartment in following order, in the manner previously described herein. A substantial saving in time as well as in space, accompanied by a markedly increased adaptability of the device for processing prints in substantial number and in large sizes, is thus possessed by the device. Still further, it is not necessary to empty or fill trays, in the manner previously followed in the art, since the solutions can be left in the associated collapsible containers between times, being, in effect,

stored in sealed solution containers at all times between uses of the device.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a receptacle; a horizontal partition dividing the interior of the receptacle into an upper, processing compartment and a lower, solution compartment; a plurality of collapsible containers within the solution compartment each adapted to hold a different solution, the partition having openings, one for each container, communicating between the processing compartment and the respective containers; valves normally closing said openings; and means for collapsing each container independently of the others to force into the processing compartment through the associated opening the solution hold in said container, comprising a lever for each container pivotally mounted in the solution compartment below its associated container and bearing thereagainst, each lever projecting out of the solution compartment for swinging of the lever by a user in a container collapsing direction.

2. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a receptacle; a horizontal partition dividing the interior of the receptacle into an upper, processing compartment and a lower, solution compartment; a plurality of collapsible containers within the solution compartment each adapted to hold a different solution, the partition having openings, one for each container, communicating between the processing compartment and the respective containers; valves normally closing said openings; and means for collapsing each container independently of the others to force into the processing compartment through the associated opening the solution hold in said container, comprising a shaft supported at its ends upon opposite walls of the receptacle, said shaft extending below the several containers, and a plurality of levers spaced longitudinally of the shaft and fulcrumed intermediate their ends upon the shaft for rocking movement independently of one another, said levers bearing against the respective containers, for collapsing of the containers responsive to rocking of the levers in one direction, said levers projecting at one end exteriorly of the receptacle for swinging of the levers by a user in a container collapsing direction.

3. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a receptacle; a horizontal partition dividing the interior of the receptacle into an upper, processing compartment and a lower, solution compartment; a plurality of collapsible containers within the solution compartment each adapted to hold a different solution, the partition having openings, one for each container, communicating between. the processing compartment and the respective containers; valves normally closing said openings; and means for collapsing each container independently of the others to force into the processing compartment through the associated opening the solution hold in said container, comprising a shaft supported at its ends upon opposite walls of the receptacle, said shaft extending below the several containers, and a plurality of levers spaced longitudinally of the shaft and fulcrumed intermediate their ends upon the shaft for rocking movement independently of one another, said levers bearing against the respective containers, for collapsing of the containers responsive to rocking of the levers in one direction, said levers projecting at one end exteriorly of the receptacle for swinging of the levers by a user in a container collapsing direction, the respective levers being under spring bias tending to normally swing the same in said direction.

4. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a receptacle; a horizontal partition dividing the interior of the receptacle into an upper, processing compartment and a lower, solution compartment; a plurality of collapsible containers within the solution compartment each adapted to hold a diiferent solution, the partition having openings, one for each container, communicating between the processing compartment and the respective containers; valves normally closing said openings; means for collapsing each container independently of the others to force into the processing compartment through the associated opening the solution hold in said container; and a plurality of hold down racks mounted in said processing compartment for swinging movement about vertically spaced, hori- Zontally extending axes, to counteract the bouyancy of photographic prints being processed in the processing compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,079,288 Caballero Nov. 18, 1913 

